Silsainey Jones Ward was my aunt. My mother, Silway Jones
Samuel died 05-12-1929, and her sister, Silsainey took me, my brother
Leroy and sisters Leona, Pauline, and Cordie, step sister Levida Bell
Going in along with her brother, Robinson Jones’ family; Perry, Hason,
Charlie, Dorene, and Myrtline. I was two years old when we moved away from
Smithville so I didn’t know my parents. This was besides her own 13
children. As far as I know, the nieces and nephews were sent to government
school at Wheelock and Goodland, which she donated money to. I didn’t go
to government school, but summertime all would come home. We helped can
peaches, apple butter, and blackberries. Since my hands were small, I had
to wash the fruit jars. I’m very thankful to Silsainey for taking us to
church. It seems like we were there every time they had services. Then
they had all day service and sometimes singing and dinner. Today my
husband, Bill Amos and I have moved back to the McCurtain County area and
active in the Living Land Methodist church and sing at Gospel Singings in
the area. My aunt loved singing and would take some of us to Dallas
Convention School. I think Jesse Watson was more musically inclined and
sung with a quartet and could really play the piano. They traveled a lot.
I remember one time they had a singing convention when I was about six
years old and he asked me to come help sing “Amazing Grace” in Choctaw. I
as so scared but today that is still my favorite song. I don’t speak
Choctaw but I like some Choctaw songs when it’s not too slow.
Rich Indian Woman dies
Idabel—The richest woman in the Choctaw Indian Nation, Mrs.
Reed ward, 67, widely known throughout the southeastern Oklahoma district
for her philanthropies, died Thursday in a Paris, Texas hospital. Mrs.
Ward was active I the Idabel Presbyterian Church. Her friends recalled
that she befriended nearly every needy child in this section. She took
many home with her to clothe, feed, and educate. She was known as
Silsainey Jones before her marriage. Her first four husbands died. After
she married Ward, she reportedly settled a threatened alienation of
affection suite for $10,000 and commented: “Him good man—worth the price.”
Mrs. Ward had 13 children of her own and besides reared seven brothers,
six sisters, and legally adopted and cared for many others. Eight children
and her husband survive. Her wealth came from oil production on her Indian
allotment near Ardmore. The funeral for Silsainey (Jones) Ward will be at
2:00 p.m. Saturday from the home here.
Silsainy (Jones) Ward

Submitted by: Wesley Samuels
Silsainey Jones lived in Smithville during the early thirties
and was a midwife for the community. She was there to deliver co-author
Wesley Samuels on November 24, 1923 in Smithville, Oklahoma, there in the
Quachita Mountains in northern McCurtain County where neighbors were
neighbors who helped each other as a large family. I remember Silsainey
(Jones Ward through my lifetime as a very caring and helpful person and
have always felt honored to have been able to know her and her family.
Four of her nieces and a nephew were first cousins to me.